Grate construction



March '8, 1927. 1,619,842

J. W. WRIGHT GRATE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan.'4, 1926 Inventor a WWJ z,

v Q I sy gzm ml Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GRATE CONSTRUCTIQN.

Application filed January 4,1926. Serial No. 79,150.

The present invention relates to improvements in grates for fire boxes, and has reference more particularly to a grate which includes loose top bars or plates. 7

It has been experienced that where grates of the above mentioned character are employed, in a furnace, and where fuel is delivered to the grate at a suitable height above the same, the loose top bars have a tendency to become displaced from their supporting frame or bearing bar, and thls occurs oftentimes when the fire is being raked, and the rake catches one of the ends of the bar.

One of the important objects of the present invention is therefore to provide a means for locking the loose top bars or plates in position on the supporting frame or bearing bar so that there will be no possibility of said bars or plates becoming displaced.

A further object is to provide a grate construction wherein means is associated with each of the loose top bars or plates for holding the same in spaced relation to the upper edges of the supporting frame whereby an air space is provided to prevent the excessive heat penetrating the frame, thus preventing any possibility of the loose bars or plates buckling.

A still further object is to provide a grate construction wherein the parts are'so arranged as to enable the same to be readily and easily assembled or disassembled, the same being further simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawin the accompanying drawing forming a part of the application, and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view with parts broken away of a pair of loose top bars or plates showing the locking means associated with the sides of the plates and the adjacent sides of the supporting frame.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, one end of the frame being broken away to illustrate the end locking means, and

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the to plates.

In thedrawlng wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally the loose top bar or plate, the same being of substantially rectangular design, and being provided withthe longitudinally extending parallel spaced slots 2.

A series of such top bars or plates are adapted to be supported on the bearing bar or frame 3 which is of any .well known construction, said frame being also of substantially rectangular shape. For the purpose of locking the bars or plates 1 in proper position on the supporting frame, I provide at the outer end of the plate, the angular lug 4 the same being formed on the bottom of the plate, and the free end of the laterally disposed portion 5 of this lug is adapted to enter a suitable slot 6 provided therefor in the outer end of the supporting member 3. This is more clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

Similar shaped lugs 7 are formed on the bottom of the plate 1 adjacent the inner end thereof and extend outwardly of the re spective sides of said plate, the same being adapted for cooperation with the substantially inverted T-shaped slots 8 formed in the respective sides of the rectangular frame 3, it being understood of course that the end of the leg portion of each of the inverted T-shaped slots communicates with the upper edge of the respective sides of the frame so as to permit the angular lugs 7 to be easily and quickly inserted in position in said slots.

The inner adjacent end of the next plate is also adapted to be locked in a similar pair of inverted T-shaped slots 9 formed in the sides of the frame 3 adjacent the aforementioned pair of inverted T-shaped slots 8 and the laterally extending angular lugs 10 of the adjacent plate will cooperate with the last mentioned pair of inverted T-shaped slots 9, it being understood of course that the inner adjacent ends of the pair of plates are disposed in abutting relation.

With the parts arranged as shown in Figures l and 2 of the drawing, the bars or plates will be locked in position on the frame against accidental displacement therefrom, and at the same time, sufficient room is left for the expansion of the bars or plates Crv The grate construction embodying my invention further includes a means for preventing the excessive heat from the plate 1 penetrating the frame 3, and to this end, there is formed on the bottom of each of the plates at spaced intervals thefeet 1 1, the. same being adapted to rest on the upper edges of the sides and ends of the supporting frame 3 so as to provide an air passage 12 between the top bars or plate 1, and the frame. In this manner, the buckling of the plates due to the excessive heat will be prevented.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that a grate construction has been provided wherein the parts may be readily and easily assembled and when the lugs of the plate are in a locked position within the respective slots provided therefor in the supporting frame for the bars or plates, there will be no possibility of said bars or plates becoming disengaged or displaced from its supporting frame.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the in vention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new is A grate comprising a substantially rectangular shaped supporting frame, a series of plates adapted to be arranged on top of the supporting frame, the sides of the rectangular shaped supporting frame being pro vided with substantially inverted T-shaped slots, the end of the leg portion of each of from the supporting frame, theend of said rectangular shaped supporting frame being provided with a slot, and an l -shape'd lug depending from the bottom of the end portion of the endmost plate and extending lon itudinally, said last mentioned lug being adapted for detachable engagement with said last mentioned slot.

In testimony whereof I affix mys1gnatur'e.

JOHN W. WRIGHT. 

